((Whoops, meant to use 2d10.  Here's the other: 5))

Quote from callmeLothar >>

- Sho wants to pray and likely doesn't want to do that near prying eyes I am guessing so he'll move somewhere in the happy-fun room unless told otherwise.

 He is just going to sit on the stairs and pray silently. 

Quote from WhiteByakko >>

Quote from callmeLothar >>

- Sho wants to pray and likely doesn't want to do that near prying eyes I am guessing so he'll move somewhere in the happy-fun room unless told otherwise.

 He is just going to sit on the stairs and pray silently. 

 the stairs where Erven and Talion are?

Yes.

Talion Perception: 15

At the end of the sad and sorry rest, if nothing has leaped out to attack them, Talion shakes his head, "We can't do much with him like this. Anyone got a suggestion?"

With a final glances in Ervan's direction, he walks over to Bertolt, "Let's see what we can find here while we wait, eh?"

Perception: 24

Talion will help the scholar investigate. He noted earlier how much more thorough the scholar was.

Okay, I wouldn't normally roll for anyone but I'll do it here this once. Bertolt perception - 22

.You are all resting, doing what you do during this time.

Talion and Bertolt - you see Sho shaking.  His eyes are closed in what you assume is a prayer.  But it doesn't look right so you go and check.  He is drenched in sweat and his eyes flicker with effort.  While you are watching him, his eyes suddenly fly open in fright and she takes a sharp gasping intake of air, as if she just emerged from an underwater swim that lasted too long!  He tries to speak but instead spits out a big gushing torrent of blood!  You look at each other and him, not sure what to think.

Talion, Sho, and Bertolt - you sense something stirring behind you. You turn your heads to see a pale blue but intense light materialize at the southern end of the room.  From within it steps a small elf, beautiful and powerful.  Immediately you feel an enormous pressure surround you - it makes your insides hurt.  It pushes you to your knees but is not hostile.  Your whole reality is shaking - it feels like you're riding really fast in a wagon over cobblestones while shaking your head from side to side at the same time.  The pressure, and the disorientation is complemented by a loud, persistent hum.  Bertolt, you've heard other musicians and theorists talk about the sound of the silence, the sound of creation - you feel this must be something akin to that.  It's a persistent buzzing - not offensive in the least but...omnipresent.  The overall feeling you get is one of unspeakable power.  It easily drowns out any other sound.

The figure steps towards you but its movements are so graceful that you reckon it might as well be swimming or floating.  Your chests ache at the sight.  Each step leaves a tear-shaped imprint on the ground that glows with the same blue light before dissipating. The elf maiden wears nothing but a diaphanous gown.  She moves slowly towards you.  As she nears the statue in the room, she stops and gazes at it.  Her face transforms into one of anger and disgust and she shakes her head.  She keeps moving towards you until she is very near you.  If you move at all (which I am sure at least one of you would) she simply waves her hand, speaking a beautifully melodic word - you are frozen in place.

She steps in front of Bertolt...she looks at you and smiles and your heart sings with music.  You try to focus on her but your whole field of vision is shaking and vibrating, causing her to flicker in and out of focus....
She steps in front of Talion....she frowns and touches your head gently.  Soft blue soothing light fills your body and you feel a burning sensation on your finger where your ring is.  She looks down at it dolorously...
She steps to Sho and kneels down beside him...she clasps his hand in hers and smiles.  Her eyes are full of sorrow as she wipes away some of the sweat and blood from your face.  When she stands back up, the blood and sweat are gone and you are dry...
She turns towards the northern passage where Onyx went and you see her smile and nod....

Finally, her face hardens and walks towards the stairs where Erven is.  Lucky Bear comes trotting out and wags her tail.  The elf smiles and kneels, petting Lucy Bear.  The dog even rolls over on her back and the elf playfully rubs her belly.  The elf stops suddenly, smile vanishing.  She looks back at the three of you, sadness in her eyes.  She looks back to the dog and stares for a moment.  She nods.  She continues on towards Erven, the blue glow lighting up the stairs.  You can see her stop at the top and sit next to him.  She takes him in her arms, hugging him.  Immediately, Erven closes his eyes and the wrinkles on his pained face smooth out.  He falls limp into her arms.  The ringing and vibration get louder and a cracking sound is heard from above you.  Some dust and dirt fall.  The elf maiden's face scrunches up with disgust.  She takes Erven and looks at him, whispering in his ear something inaudible.  She lays him down gently on the ground.  She looks back at all of you and smiles.  She slowly fades from view, taking the warm blue glow with her...

Your bodies loosen from the temporary paralysis and you slump to the floor, aching as if you just ran a few miles double-time.  Your eyes close and you fall fast asleep...

You all awaken more or less at the same time, when roused by the worried shaking of Onyx...

Talion, Sho, and Bertolt - all roll me a religion check please.

 Talion Religion: 19

Religion: 12   

@sho - roll one more time please

Erven is lying on the ground, initially unmoving. He sits up and looks to each of you. He is quiet for a second, and then bursts into tears. 

"Horrible, horrible. The visions that I had! I had this terrible dream about a haunted house, undead everywhere, and a unholy vampire!  Everyone that I ever cared for was turned into a zombie or a ghoul, and I was being eaten alive, EATEN ALIVE!  I'm glad that we are back at the campfire... I nodded there for a second."

"Bert was telling a story, telling us about Candlekeep...singing an elvish song about a huntsman and his fair elven maiden...  Onyx was there, and Talion... and.. Sho."  Erven turns and looks to Sho.... "And you, Sho, you were looking for a Tome of Faith..." his voice sounds dreamy "What would that faith be? What book were you looking for..."

Suddenly Erven starts to look around, looking between Sho and all of you, then he sees the statue of the vampire in the room... and it all rushes back. "MMMMMmmmmmmhhhmmm!" He gets up with a start and jerkily runs and moves to the back wall, staring at the statue, then each of you in turn. Finally, his breathing starts to slow down, slowly, slowly. And he comes to himself. You will notice that his left hand has a high frequency tremor that was not there before. It calms down when he holds something or does something with the hand. He listens and remains quiet, hoping to hear what each of you would say.  He moves to his pack, readies his shield in the arm, steadying it and takes out his rapier.

Quietly, he says  "And then... she came. I've only dreamt of her twice before. This third time so much ...more. She came and held me, brought me out of that dark place..."

Finally after a long time, says "I'm ready." he says. "I remember. Let's get out of this damn house." He readies his gear and prepares to go, staying a little distant from Sho, averting his eyes from him. He does seem much calmer however, that high pitch to his voice is no longer there, he seems refilled, reassured, restored and revived by his deity, Sehanine Moonbow.  He kneels on the ground, bows his head, obviously saying a prayer in silence to her, thanking her for his life.

Religion (again): 14. 

Talion 

Talion just stares at each of them. Sho vomiting blood, the sadness of the ... goddess(?), the beauty. Ervan, ranting again. At least it's an improvement. Was it just another trick of the house?

He quickly checks that his ring is still on his finger, as he tried to focus on Ervan's ranting. It's like he is replaying the last few days in his head. This can't end well. His hand grips more firmly on his meat cleaver, but as the Elf finishes, he nods in relief. "Good! Glad to hear it!" he says in a voice that does not sound convinced. Elf sounds crazier than ever. How long until he falls apart completely?

He helps Ervan find his weapons -- they were removed by Talion earlier to avoid him attacking them when he wok up -- then nods, "You are right about one thing, though: we should get out of here." He gaze lingers on Onyx, "It's not good for any of us."

Finally, he reluctantly turns to Sho, half expecting to see him drenched in blood once more, then he shakes his head and smiles. "She seemed to like you. Friend of yours?"

As his next action, Erven kneels down, sets his rapier down, and rubs Lucky Bear.  He lets him come into his arms, gives him a good belly rub and nuzzles his face into his fur.  "Come Lucky Bear, you will lead us through this madness."  He picks up his rapier and readies himself, observing the others.  

 (( Did Talion's 19 religion check yield anything...I can imagine him taking an interest in tales of scantily clad elf goddesses... ))

Quote from Ereshion >>

 (( Did Talion's 19 religion check yield anything...I can imagine him taking an interest in tales of scantily clad elf goddesses... ))

 check your DMs warlock

As Onyx rouses the others, he seems a little less . . . hostile.  Perhaps it was the quick nap - or perhaps he was just puzzled by the vague talk of a woman that he had not seen.

He's still broody, naturally, but his posture is slightly more at ease.

Bertolt flails about for his notes as he is released from the strange feeling from seeing the mysterious elf. Whatever she had done fills him with inspiration like he has never felt before, while not the best artist when it comes to drawing he tries to put her visage to page.

Religion: 17

Suddenly he pauses mid drawing and looks to the others. "This may sound strange even after what we have seen in this place but I believe that elven woman was an aspect of a goddess..."

Erven uses a hit die to heal for 10 points.